A match for the Women’s Intercontinental title is set for Clash in Italy.
Becky Lynch tried to be smart during her non-title match against Sol Ruca during Saturday Night’s Main Event, throwing referee Jessika Carr into Sol Ruca’s way as the new Raw star laid her out with the Sol snatcher. Once the referee recovered, she called for the bell, disqualifying Lynch. The enraged champion then jumped Ruca, laying her out with multiple manhandle slams.
Backstage, Nick Alids informed Lynch that he had talked to Raw GM Adam Pearce and as a result of her actions, an Intercontinental title match had been added to next Sunday’s Clash in Italy, which will take place in Turin.
Ruca has yet to score a pinfall victory since getting called up to the main roster, losing to the likes of Liv Morgan and IYO SKY. After Lynch dismissed Ruca on this past Monday’s Raw, the former NXT star went to the ring and called out Lynch. The two eventually agreed to a match for SNME, but Lynch objected to putting the Intercontinental title on the line.
WWE Clash in Italy (May 31)
WWE Championship: Cody Rhodes defends against Gunther
Tribal Combat match for World Heavyweight title: Roman Reigns defends against Jacob Fatu
WWE Women’s Championship: Rhea Ripley defends against Jade Cargill
WWE Women’s Intercontinental title: Becky Lynch defends against Sol Ruca
Two matches are now set for the Elimination Chamber.
AJ Lee made her return to television on Monday and confronted Becky Lynch. She said she was there to cheer on Maxxine Dupri against Nattie later in the night, but also pointed out that she defeated Lynch not only at Wrestlepalooza but also at War Games. Lee said that she figured she was the number one contender for the Intercontinental title. Lynch resisted the idea of facing Lynch but eventually agreed, telling the former Diva’s Champion that if she thought the man held her down before, she has no idea what she’s in for.
Later, when Lee came out to help Dupri to the back following her match, Lynch ran in through the crowd and posted Lee from behind into a nearby turnbuckle.
The title match between CM Punk and Finn Balor was also confirmed for February 28. Balor, upset over his title loss in Belfast and being rejected for a spot in the Royal Rumble, hijacked CM Punk’s interview segment with Michael Cole before Punk could come out. Balor demanded a title match in Chicago, Punk’s home turf. The World Heavyweight Champion arrived and agreed to the title match, but GM Adam Pearce rejected the idea, saying it could potentially ruin the WrestleMania main event between Punk and Roman Reigns. Punk said that he wanted a say in the matter and would take over the show until he got what he wanted. Pearce eventually relented and agreed to the title match.
WWE Elimination Chamber (February 28)
World Heavyweight title: CM Punk defends against Finn Balor
Women’s Intercontinental title: Becky Lynch defends against AJ Lee
Men’s Elimination Chamber: Randy Orton vs. LA Knight vs. TBA vs. TBA vs. TBA vs. TBA
Women’s Elimination Chamber: Tiffany Stratton vs. Rhea Ripley vs. TBA vs. TBA vs. TBA vs. TBA
*How did the show accomplish what should have been its key goals
*Thoughts on Aaron Wolf
*Business notes on the show
*Yota Tsuji and the title name change
*The end of the Bullet Club
*Shinsuke Nakamura and his thoughts
*Angle with Will Ospreay
*Records that Tanahashi set during his career
*Tanahashi’s background
*Notes on his last IWGP title win that wasn’t supposed to happen
*The unique way he became a mainstream figure in a news story
*How his career exploded from there
*How Tanahashi differed from prior IWGP champions and how that changed who could hold that title
*The Tanahashi era that turned around New Japan
*A look at his record setting 13 Tokyo Dome career main events
*Various title wins and career awards
*2025 Business Year in Review
*A look at all the shows that drew 15,000 fans
*Biggest individual draws of the year
*Crowds of 15,000 or more by promotion and how the main companies did
*How UFC PPV gates wer
*The biggest pro wrestling drawing card every year from 1916 to 2025
*What wrestlers were No. 1 for the year the most years in their career
*The 50 biggest arena draws in pro wrestling history based on the standards of their era
*New Year Dash coverage
*The year in matches, who had the most great matches in 2025, most over the course of a career, top ten arenas of all-time and new records set in 2025 by a promotion for a year as well as for a city
*A look at the life of Johnny Legend, a cult celebrity wrestling fan, his work with Freddie Blassie and Andy Kaufman, and his promotion, Incredibly Strange Wrestling.
*The most detailed look at the ratings of the pro wrestling TV shows and details regarding who watches
*Advanced ticket sales for WWE, AEW and TNA events
*AEW stars headed to CMLL next week
*Another Arena Mexico sellout
*Legendary pro wrestling promoter turns 101
*Old living wrestling personalities
*Ted DiBiase files lawsuit
*The Ted DiBiase Jr. case
*A look at the career of Bob Boyer/Bobby Bold Eagle, who wrestled from 1955 to 1987
*Documentary planned on 80s tag team
*Notes on WrestleMania week shows
*Update on the WBD sale
*Former UFC champion goes for boxing world title
*Update on the home for WWE’s library
*Plans for TV shows this month
*How much Dwayne Johnson has made from the WWE contract he signed two years ago
*Those added to WWE, those leaving, those injured and those they are interested in
*How the Holiday week house shows did
*Why WWE’s weekly audience on Netflix should go up close to 12 percent over the next three months.
Becky Lynch on social media: “One year ago, the women’s Intercontinental championship was won by LOSER LYRA! Big whoop!! Now, because I’M holding the gold, people say this title means more than ANY OTHER CHAMPIONSHIP in the world of pro wrestling! Instead of THANKING ME, the media continues to spread LIES! Instead of PRAISING me, PETTY Pearce tries to stack the deck against me! However, when you’re THE MAN like me, you take on all challenges and prove to these SCUMBAG haters that you’re the best for a reason! As my gift to you, ENJOY this picture of me in my garden that I PLANTED MYSELF – BTB THE GREATEST INTERCONTINENTAL (Intergalactic) CHAMPION EVER!”
Laredo Kid shared his feelings on the second AAA La Parka, who passed away six years ago on January 11: “Today marks 6 years since you left us, my mentor. Thank you for opening your home to me, for believing in me when I was just starting, and for supporting me without expecting anything in return. You were a mentor, a true friend, and family. La Parka, you will never be forgotten.”
HBO Max is now available in Italy, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, Israel, and Greece. The UK and Ireland will get the service at the end of March.
Fred Rosser reflected on his own tryout in wake of WWE holding tryouts this week in Orlando: “I hate to sound like an old timer, but I can’t stress enough how fortunate today’s men and women are to have opportunities with @WWE. Back in my day, I paid $1,000 for a four-day tryout, beat out 75 men and women from all over the world, and earned my WWE contract May 4th 2009. Make the most of it, and good luck to you all @WWEID @WWERecruit #blockthehate”
Jetspeed vs. Janelasus (Joey Janela & Megan Bayne) has been announced for Superpower Slam on February 1.
Gangrel vs. Matt Tremont has been signed for Hybrid Wrestling on April 16.
AJ Lee made her return to WWE on Monday Night Raw, helping Maxxine Dupri defeat Becky Lynch to win the women’s Intercontinental championship.
On Monday night, Lynch was defending her women’s Intercontinental championship against Maxxine Dupri when she was distracted by Lee’s entrance. Dupri then pinned a distracted Lynch with a crossbody to win the title shortly thereafter.
It was the first pro wrestling championship for Dupri (real name: Sydney Zmrzel). The former cheerleader and dancer signed with WWE after a tryout in 2021. She debuted on the main roster in July of 2022 as the sister of Max Dupri (now known as L.A. Knight), serving as Director of Talent for Maximum Male Models (now performing in AEW as MxM Collection). In 2023, she joined Alpha Academy alongside Chad Gable, Akira Tozawa, and Otis. Most of her matches this year have come on Main Event or on NXT house shows, though this was her fourth Raw match against Lynch since August.
Lee returned to WWE after a decade away last September. She teamed with her husband CM Punk to defeat Lynch and her husband Seth Rollins at Wrestlapalooza that month, but had not been seen since.
In the main event of Monday’s Raw, CM Punk won the gauntlet to face Gunther for the World Championship. Bron Breakker and Penta started things off, with Breakker not only scoring a win over Penta but was also successful in beating LA Knight and Jey Uso. During his match against Punk he was helped by stablemate Bronson Reed. However, Jimmy Uso came out to even the odds. Punk picked up the win following a GTS.
After the match, Breakker and Reed continued to attack until Roman Reigns made his return, helping clear the ring. Reigns helped Jey back up on this feet but only stared at Punk as the show went off the air.
Earlier in the night, new Women’s World Champion Naomi came out but was confronted by IYO SKY and Rhea Ripley, who both laid claim to a title match after the events of Evolution. As all three argued, Adam Pearce came out and made a three-way title match for SummerSlam.
Lyra Valkyria meanwhile defeated Bayley in a 2 out of 3 falls match to earn a title match against Women’s Intercontinental Champion Becky Lynch. After Valkyria’s victory, champion Becky Lynch came to the ring as the two had a staredown.
More details on the tournament to crown the first-ever Women’s Intercontinental Champion.
On social media, Triple H posted the bracket for the tournament which will kick off on Monday’s Raw as Dakota Kai, Shayna Baszler, and Katana Chance will do battle to determine who advances to the semifinals first. Whoever wins will face the winners of another triple threat match between Zoey Stark, Raquel Rodriguez, and Kayden Carter.
The other side of the bracket has Lyra Valkyra, Zelina Vega, and Ivy Nile squaring off against one another. They will meet the winner of a match between Alba Fyre, Kairi Sane, and Natalya.
Tonight, the road to crowning the inaugural Women’s Intercontinental Champion begins. 12 Superstars each with a chance to make history.
It wasn’t announced when the finals to crown the first-ever champion would be taking place. The announcement of the new championship took place on last week’s Raw.
The Women’s IC title tournament comes as a similar one on SmackDown continues this Friday for the Women’s United States Championship, with the final match of the opening round set to take place. The first-ever Women’s US Champion will be crowned at Saturday Night’s Main Event on December 14.
